In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s 82nd birthday, celebrated across every state in America today, the NAACP asked members, in honor of Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech, Aug. 28, 1963, what their dreams are:
I have a dream that the pride I have being an American will not diminish over the years as I begin to see the frayed edges of a new kind of uncivil discourse wear thin the fabric that binds us. I dream that this country will rise up and fill the shoes it is meant to walk in, those of decency, compassion, honor, and vision for the future… we must walk together. — Kristin
I have a dream that Americans on the whole will stand up for the “little” people, those who are poor, downtrodden, unemployed or underemployed, the sick, children…so that we all have an equal chance for greatness through health and education and opportunity for all. — Ebony
I have a dream that all humans will rise to a higher level of consciousness and treat each other with respect and dignity. — Linda
I have a dream that I will consistently “live the dream” and fullfill all of the good intentions Dr. King had for us to “be the best” and work to ensure those who feel threatened by the advancement of people of color will find peace, acceptance and see their connection to “the dream”… — R
I have a dream that there will be peace worldwide and reverence for the earth and all its creations. — Cynthia A
I have a dream that my grandchildren will be able to realize what I have as a result of what Martin Luther King, Jr. did for me. I love God, I am educated, I have worked for fair wages, I own two homes, I have traveled all over the world, I volunteer in my community, I have voted since I was 18 years old, never been called the N-word to my face, I am intelligent, an independent thinker and I am still able to do what I want with the remainder of my life. — Shirley
I have a dream that one day people will truly accept each other for who they are. We will all open our hearts to one another and have respect. — Alexis
I have a dream that the legal system will become a means of true rehabilitation and deterrence. That the gaps and holes in the legal system will be remastered so that the racial disparity of drug laws and the death penalty will no longer be a disguised legal way to further racism. That children can no longer be tried as adults and, as a result, be raised in a system that can demoralize and break them. I have a dream that, in the words of Dr. King and Ghandi, “An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind” will ring in our society’s ears until they can truly spread to the hearts of those individuals who do not believe in its truth, so that the death penalty will be abolished. — Heather
I have a dream that we as a nation will see color as a way to create and inspire each other and the children we are privileged to guide into this world. — Kimberly
I have a dream that people will be treated exactly how they should be treated throughout society. I have a dream that every person is accepted for who they are on the inside. I have a dream that everyone be free from hatred or abuse. I wish that the lost build strength to find themselves through the roughest of times. — Kelsey
Mr. Jealous, President and CEO of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People, may be contacted at info@naacpnet.org
